Michelle Perkins , LCSW, LISW

Michelle Perkins is a licensed social worker with 12 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families through a wide range of emotional and life challenges. She works with people facing anxiety, depression, stress, grief, addiction, low self-esteem, relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, sleep and eating issues, parenting concerns, and other changes that affect daily functioning. Michelle emphasizes practical skills, empathic listening, and client education to help people set and reach meaningful goals.

She is licensed in Florida as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and in Ohio as a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), credentials that reflect clinical training in assessment and psychotherapy. Her practice draws on evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Client-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy, selected and adapted to fit each personâs history and priorities. Michelle aims to blend structure and compassion so clients can build coping strategies and strengthen relationships.

Throughout her work she honors each personâs unique story and collaborates on a tailored treatment plan. Her experience includes addressing co-occurring conditions such as ADHD and bipolar symptoms, caregiver stress, substance-related concerns, attachment and abandonment issues, and complex family dynamics while promoting resilience and clearer communication.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a supportive relationship in which the therapist follows the clientâs lead, offering empathy and validation while helping clarify values and goals. It is often useful for improving self-esteem, navigating life changes, and strengthening interpersonal connections.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and adjust unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors through practical exercises and skill building, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines acceptance and change strategies and teaches skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, making it helpful for high-intensity emotions and relationship challenges.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process; Michelle works collaboratively with clients and licensed professionals to determine which methods align with an individualâs needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so care remains focused and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexibility by allowing work by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity when life gets busy, and use different formats for homework, check-ins, or skill practice, while still receiving support from trained therapists.